Tamiflu linked to "bizarre" reactions Dear Friend,
It's yet another case of the cure being worse than the disease. In the UK, more than half of the kids who have taken Tamiflu -- the antibiotic weapon of choice to combat the H1N1 virus -- have experienced side effects. Although most of these side effects have been minor (such as stomach cramps and nausea), as many as one in five of these kid have had disturbing, "neuropsychiatric" reactions to the drug. Reports say that kids have had an inability to think clearly, have suffered from nightmares, and have behaved "strangely." Unfortunately, these reactions are nothing new. The dangers of Tamiflu are well-documented. It's even been linked to the deaths of some children and teenagers. It's really no wonder. The drug is not just an antibiotic, like so many assume it is -- it's a neuraminidase inhibitor that blocks viral enzymes that can assist the flu virus in infecting the respiratory tract. In the U.S., the FDA has acknowledged that there have been as many as 1,800 reports of kids experiencing abnormal behavior when they're given Tamiful. In Japan, they've actually banned the use of Tamiflu by kids. But because the UK is in such a cold panic over swine flu, they're handing out Tamiflu like candy. Believe it or not, there's even a telephone hotline and website where people can order a prescription without having to consult a doctor. So far, as many as 150,000 people have been prescribed the drug in this manner. No wonder so many kids are having so many side effects. At the first sign of a runny nose or a headache, their parents are pumping them full of Tamiflu, thanks to Dr. Web. All of these risks in order to reduce the flu symptoms by less than two days. That's right: according to the makers of Tamiflu, clinical tests have shown that the drug only has the ability to reduce the duration of symptoms by about 36 hours. It just doesn't add up. ____________________________________ Pop goes the antioxidants If you're looking for an antioxidant boost, you might want to head to the movies. After all, this is where you'd be likely to eat lots of popcorn, which, according to a new study, has a hefty dose of antioxidants. Who knew you could battle cancer while taking in a matinee? Researchers at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania examined whole-grain snacks and cereals (not the sugary death bombs that I'm always warning you about) and found them to be just as rich in polyphenols as they are in fiber. Originally, it was thought that the high fiber content in these foods was what made them such effective weapons against cancer and heart disease. Turns out it's really a double-whammy of fiber and polyphenols. Raisin bran packed the biggest antioxidant punch, weighing in at a whopping 524 milligrams of antioxidants per serving. The surprise is that the antioxidant content is found in the grains that these foods are made from. Researchers found that popcorn is the king of antioxidant content when it comes to snack foods, so munch on... just go easy on that movie-theater liquid they call "butter." Always giving your brain some healthy snacks to chew on, William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.
